Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. S24 : Is the Upgrade Worth It?

The Samsung Galaxy S25 boasts a more powerful processor and enhanced camera software, but does this justify an upgrade from the S24 ? Let's delve into the details.

Pricing and Availability

The Galaxy S25 (256GB) retails at $999.99, available for pre-order online and in stores from February 7, 2025. The S24 (256GB) initially launched at a similar price, but currently enjoys a $350 discount at Best Buy ($649.99 with carrier activation).

Sleeker Design

The S25 retains the familiar design of its predecessor: rounded corners, slim bezels, and a vertical triple-camera arrangement. However, it's slightly more compact (0.1mm narrower, 0.4mm thinner) and lighter (six grams) than the S24 , despite using the same Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and Armor Aluminum 2 materials. Both maintain an IP68 rating. The S25 offers seven color options, including five standard shades and two new online-exclusive colors.

Identical Display

The S25 inherits the S24 's Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, featuring a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate and 2,600 nits peak brightness. Resolution (3120 x 1440) and pixel density (513 ppi) remain unchanged, along with features like Adaptive color tone and always-on display. While competitors offer brighter displays, this is a point where Samsung could have improved.

Processor Power-Up

The S25 utilizes the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3nm) chipset, delivering a significant performance boost: 37% faster CPU, 30% faster GPU with Vulkan Engine and improved ray tracing, and an advanced NPU for features like Generative Edit without cloud reliance. Both phones feature 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB UFS 4.0 storage; however, the S25 's RAM uses a more power-efficient 12nm fabrication process.

Agentic AI Integration

Samsung integrates AI more deeply into One UI 7 (Android 15) on the S25 . Agentic AI enables complex multi-step tasks via voice commands, improved natural language understanding, and contextual awareness. Enhancements include Circle to Search, on-screen awareness, and intelligent search suggestions. Many of these features may eventually arrive on the S24 via software updates.

Camera: Software Refinements

The S25 retains the S24 's camera hardware: 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto, and 12MP selfie. However, software improvements include better low-light video recording, Audio Eraser, a Virtual Aperture button in Expert RAW, and an enhanced Portrait Studio. While the lack of higher-resolution ultrawide and telephoto sensors is a missed opportunity, the existing setup remains competitive.

Battery Life: A Slight Downgrade

Both phones share a 4900mAh battery, but the S25 offers slightly less video playback time (30 hours vs. 31 hours for the S24 ). Charging speeds remain at 45W wired and 15W wireless, despite Qi2 compatibility.

Satellite Connectivity (Future Feature)

The S25 supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, but its advertised satellite connectivity is currently unavailable. This feature, confirmed by Qualcomm, may arrive via a future software update.

The Verdict

For existing S24 owners, the upgrade to the S25 isn't compelling. The performance and camera improvements, while notable, aren't drastic enough to justify the price difference, especially considering the S24 's discounted price. New buyers should carefully weigh the cost difference and prioritize their needs. The S25 offers top-tier performance and refined features, but the S24 provides excellent value.

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